Episode No. 4 recap: "The Ultimate Fighter: U.S. vs. U.K."

The fourth episode of “The Ultimate Fighter: U.S. vs. U.K.” opens with a brief recap of the previous week’s episode before cutting to the roadwork and training session of Michael Bisping’s European squad.

The middleweight contender says he’s pleased with the early efforts of his entire crew.

We learn that Bisping’s “assistant” coaches are also his “real-world” coaches back home. Mario Sukuta will handle the grappling duties, while Dave Jackson will supervise the striking game.

Bisping believes both coaches will provide great training for the team.

Team U.K. Lightweight Ross Pearson agrees with the assessment, insisting he’s being pushed to the limit on a daily basis.

Welterweight Nick Osipczak says defeating the U.S. contenders is a main priority, and Bisping says he’s confident the opposing squad can’t possibly be training any harder than his own.

As the two teams trade possession of the gym, Team U.S. welterweight and MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) blogger DaMarques Johnson makes an off-handed remark to his British opponents, hoping they are working on their “jumper.” The basketball reference isn’t comprehended by Bisping, who passes on the “very, very poor attempt to give us [expletive]” to his equally baffled team.

Johnson tells us he’s already sick of Bisping’s talk, and Henderson advises them to just use the talk as motivation.

Henderson is excited to have his team roster finally set, and we are introduced to his assistants. Gustavo Pugliese is in charge of boxing and footwork, Ricardo Feliciano will handle the jiu-jitsu lessons, and Cyrille Diabate will assist with Muay Thai coaching. Heath Sims completes the stacked coaching staff to assist in wrestling.

Henderson knows he’ll be at a disadvantage early, as his team has all fought within the past three to four days, while the Team U.K. fighters have had a near-two-week break. Despite the added difficulty, the team lets Henderson know they’re all ready to go.

The fight announcement is made, and Henderson selects welterweight Mark Miller to face Team U.K.’s Osipczak. Miller is excited about the prospect of a stand-up battle, while Osipczak fells confident his reach advantage will be the deciding factor.

Bisping is happy with the selection, saying “one to us” as the fighters stare down. Johnson again voices his displeasure at Bisping’s words.

Bisping and his staff begin to break down Miller’s elimination fight, as visa issues kept the Brit out of the country during the bouts. Bisping, while offering his best Steve Mazzagatti impersonation, also notes that Miller keeps his right hand low during most exchanges and backs way when pressured. The coaches also note Miller’s use of a double and triple jab while shying away from much Muay Thai.

Biping feels Miller is one-dimensional and is excited for Osipczak’s chances. We learn Bisping has trained with his fighter before when Osipczak was brought in to mimic Chris Leben. The former kung-fu fighter believes he has no reason to fear Miller after intense training sessions with Bisping.

Back at the house, Johnson finds a Team U.K. T-shirt that has been left behind. It’s the season’s first prank, and mild in comparison to previous seasons, but Johnson marks the shirt with the score using a bleach pen: “U.S.A. 1, U.K. 0″

Team U.S. welterweight Frank Lester explains that items left in the common area are fair game, though “bodily fluids” and “other bodily parts” will not be utilized.

Returning to the gym, both fighters weigh-in at 170 pounds even, and UFC President Dana White admits he was more impressed by Miller’s elimination bout than Osipczak’s. Bisping knows his crew is destined to be perpetual underdogs, but believes “We’re not here to be on TV. We’re here to win the Goddamn show.”

Osipczak lets on that he plans on fighting orthodox, though he wants his team to portray him as a southpaw while Miller prepares. The team agrees, and as they return back to the house they find the graffitied T-shirt. A good laugh is had by all.

Back at the gym, Miller makes the very uncomfortable proclamation that his fight nickname is “The Meat Missile,” and that he made it up while having breakfast with his grandmother. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Miller admits he’s not much for gameplanning, but Diabate does advise him that Osipczak’s kicks are nothing to worry about. Odd coaching highlight to show. Foreshadowing? Henderson believes Miller is “going to beat the [expletive] out of the guy.”

Following practice, Johnson locates a pair of Team U.K. wrestling shoes that have been left behind. The prankster proceeds to mark the new score on the shoes, Team U.S. leading 2-0. Team U.S. lightweight Cameron Dollar admits the item is a bit touchy to deface, but the damage is done.

Pearson finds his shoes and sides with Dollar. Retribution is promised. Pearson tries to question Team U.S. Jason Dent who “wrote on me boots.” The message takes a while to work from Pearson’s angered accent to the rest of Team U.S., but Bisping quickly quells the situation. The British middleweight advises his team to rise above the nonsense and focus on winning fights.

Bisping grabs Osipczak and advises him to take his opponent to the floor in his upcoming bout. While the Team U.K. coaching staff is confident the welterweight can win from the feet, they believe Miller is completely out of his element on his back after watching several YouTube videos of his previous fights.

Both fighters believe it’s important for them to set a proper tone for their team with a win. Osipczak admits it’s a pressure situation – though he thrives in them – while Miller says he never gets nervous before a fight. The “Tale of the Tape” shows a five-inch reach advantage for Osipczak, though Miller has had 11 more professional contests. It’s time to get underway.

The fight sees the debut of both teams’ fairly sweet fight shorts, and the two fighters waste little time in starting the action. Miller rushes in behind a series of jabs and clinches. Osipczak responds with a quick hip toss, and Miller is forced to pull guard.

Miller starts to look immediately for a kimura, and Osipczak defends and rolls. Miller stands, and a scramble sees Miller grab a front headlock and force his opponent to his back. Osipczak grabs guard and scores a few elbows from the bottom.

Miller tries to push in, and Osipczak uses the move as a sweep, ducking out and moving back to his feet. The two quickly clinch and trade knees on the inside. A few right hands score up top for Miller before a left pushes Osipczak to the floor. Miller follows in, but Osipczak rolls out and gains top position.

Miller misses on guard as he looks again to the kimura. The move isn’t there, but Miller uses the position to stand. The two trade a wild flurry, pausing briefly then resuming. Miller seems to briefly be earning the better of the exchanges, and Osipczak ducks under and scores with a double-leg takedown.

Miller pulls guard and Bisping calls for his team to quiet down from cageside so that he can deliver instructions. Osipczak shows a bit of ground and pound from top, but is eventually kicked off when he stands to posture. Miller stands as well, and charges Osipczak while falling directly into a guillotine. Miller’s right arm is in the hold, but Osipczak squeezes.

Miller offers a phantom tap that has referee Herb Dean eyeing the action closely while Team U.K. objects. Osipczak holds guard with a minute remaining in the round. Miller lands a few heavy punches from top position as the round expires on a back-and-forth opening round.

Miller opens the second round with a flurry. Osipczak closes the distance, but Miller drops to his back while pulling a guillotine attempt. Osipczak spins out of the hold and delivers a series of elbows from side control. Knees follow, and Miller again tries the guillotine, this time from half-guard. Osipczak moves into mount while resisting the choke.

Miller rolls with the move, but he loses control of the choke as he transitions to top position. Osipczak pulls guard halfway through the round. Osipczak throws a few elbows from bottom position, then quickly throws up his legs while locking in a triangle choke. The move falls to the side, and Miller throws the legs off and passes to side control.

Osipczak quickly works back to guard, but Dean stands the two up for a lack of action. The fight starts again with just over one minute remaining, and as Miller eyes an opening, Osipczak lands a beautiful right high kick that sends Miller crashing to the floor. Osipczak walks away, and the fight is halted with 1:06 remaining.

It’s a quick, stunning end to an exciting bout.

Osipczak explains why the blow was successful.

“Look low, kick high,” Osipczak says. “Oldest trick in the book.”

Bisping talks trash, Miller vomits in his dressing room, and next week’s preview shows a U.S. team in disarray. Uh, oh.

Catch new episodes of “The Ultimate Fighter: U.S. vs. U.K.” every Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Spike TV. MMAjunkie.com will recap each episode of the reality series, and full series coverage can be found on “The Ultimate Fighter 9” page.